The department is rather remote and inaccessible by land, although local airlines fly to the main cities.

[citation needed] Gracias a Dios department covers a total surface area of 16,997 km2 and, in 2015, had an estimated population of 94,450.

[citation needed] Although it is the second largest department in the country, it is sparsely populated, and contains extensive pine savannas, swamps, and rainforests.

[citation needed] At the time of the 2013 Honduras census, Gracias a Dios Department had a population of 90,795.

Due to its remoteness and the Honduran government having a relatively low ability to fight crime, trafficking of narcotics is common in Gracias a Dios.